Top Performing Sterling Companies Honored for Success; Serve as Inspiration to Entrepreneurs

Capital Connection’12, a nationally recognized technology industry conference, will pay tribute to 24 successful businesses singled out as market maker companies with a special “Sterling Company” award. The companies were selected unanimously by some of the country’s top private investors for stellar performance and will join in the 25th Anniversary celebration of the Capital Connection conference.

The following companies will be recognized during Capital Connection for their industry leadership and business performance. Each serves as a model for company-builders embarking on comparable journeys with the hope of achieving similar successes. These stand-out companies’ successes are each measured differently and range from holding a market or industry leadership position, to continued exceptional business growth, to having achieved public company status, market leadership and high growth performance. Many are Capital Connection alums, having been prior presenters on stage.

“Marking 25 years as one of the nation’s largest entrepreneur-focused business and investor conferences is a significant milestone. Reaching a silver anniversary is an achievement that couldn’t have been accomplished without a dedicated investor community and the likes of the Sterling Companies we honor at this year’s event. It is due to the efforts of companies like these, that we’re celebrating our 25th year,” said Julia Spicer, Executive Director of the Mid-Atlantic Venture Association.

In recognition of the Capital Connection silver anniversary, these trailblazing companies will be presented with a special “Sterling Company” award. The management teams from these Sterling Companies will be recognized by spotlighting their business success and with a celebratory reception in their honor held during the Capital Connection’12 conference.

“Capital Connection is known for attracting promising and accomplished entrepreneurs, along with seasoned CEO peers renowned for their accelerated year-over-year growth. During our 25-year history, more than 1500 companies have now become “alums” of Capital Connection, having presented in front of our audiences at various stages of their company life cycle,” Tom Roberts, Partner, Harbert Venture Partners. “We celebrate these Sterling Companies as role models for the younger firms that come to our program each year to learn, to engage and to grow with the support of the expert and invaluable resources provided by our community of investors and advisors and through peer-to-peer interaction.”

Key features in this year’s Capital Connection and TechBUZZ conference:

• Keynote Speakers: Chairman and CEO of Revolution, Co-Founder of America Online and ultimate entrepreneur, Steve Case; Gilt Groupe CEO and Co-Founder, Kevin Ryan; and CEO and Founder of Opower, Dan Yates.
• Who’s Hot: A who’s who of hot companies and recognizable market leaders.
• What’s the BUZZ? The high energy, fast-pitch TechBUZZ program showcasing what’s new and fresh from Seed Stage startups. This year featuring the Best of the BUZZ with real-time feedback from audience participants.
• Easy Access: A new rate structure to make the conference accessible to a broad range of entrepreneurs, angel investors, incubators and companies across all stages of growth.
• Opportunity to Tell the Company Story: An unparalleled opportunity for early, growth and late stage firms to present business models for investment or showcase their success.

Capital ConnectionTM, one of the nation’s most respected industry conferences, will be held this year on May 23-24 at the Omni Shoreham Hotel in Washington, D.C. Registration for Capital Connection’12 with its featured innovative TechBUZZ event is now open on the conference website located at www.capitalconnection.org.

NOTE TO EDITORS AND REPORTERS: Media interested in attending this year’s Capital Connection and TechBUZZ, must submit an online request for press credentials at http://www.capitalconnection.org/about/media. The conference media policy is also available for review on the above web page.

About Capital ConnectionTM In its 25th year, Capital Connection brings together the broad community of entrepreneurial companies and potential partners to help enhance business and economic growth. Opinion leaders from business and government share their knowledge and expertise, along with leading technology companies at all growth stages who showcase their capabilities to a nationwide audience of investors, advisors, partners and entrepreneurs at the annual signature event. Launched in 2011, TechBUZZ provides start-ups and seed-stage companies center stage in spotlighting the “next big thing.” For more information and to register, go to www.capitalconnection.org.

About TechBUZZTechBUZZ was first piloted in 2010 and launched in May 2011 as a half-day conference preceding Capital Connection in response to the growing impact start-ups and seed-stage companies are having in recent years on the investment ecosystem overall. MAVA is dedicated to continuing to foster and celebrate this vital area of our membership by bringing together investors and entrepreneurs in a dynamic and meaningful format. TechBUZZ shines a well-deserved light on the visionary innovators and company-builders in our region who are actively developing their concepts, testing their beta or prototype products and services and pursuing a path toward market entry.